I've now clocked over 3000 miles - the engine's as open as it's gonna be and my arse has now firmly imposed itself on my driver seat. I think it's a good time to share my views on owning the car.

I bought the car purely out of financial necessity. Couldn't justify 60 odd quid a week on petrol in my Alfa 147 (350~ miles a week driving the M6/M42 plus a trip from Birmingham to Scotland every 5th weekend) nor the road tax, nor the insurance, nor the extravagant price of servicing an out of warranty car.

However, I wasn't gonna get the cheapest piece of boring garbage I could find so I set myself on a car with some character - a 1.3 Sport and tarted the hell out of it (if you're gonna spend a lot of time in a car you really ought to want to be in it)

I wont go into any of the mucking about I had with the dealer just to get the thing, or the fallout from the handover (which is still on going - you can check my thread posts if you want some light reading)

Cost
I'm saving an incredible amount of cash on petrol - 35 quid a week tops and I'm booting the hell out the car. If I really wanted to drive boring I'm sure I could drop to a sub 30 quid mark but that'd be so not worth it

Performance
55-63mpg without trying. I'm normally doing anywhere between 70-85 and often pushing 90 up the motorways, the car is really happy at those speeds after a little bit of encouragement to get there in the first place. The first day I had it I drove to Scotland and got 55mpg doing 70-80. Next time I go I expect it to be even kinder!

Drive/Handling
It's not a sports car and it doesn't handle like one. Roundabouts are fun though - I've love it feeling like it's slipping sideways JUST enough. Puts a big smile on my face (My alfa was arse heavy so sliding was the first sign of not cool). The brakes, however, scare me horribly. They just don't seem capable of stopping the car at any reasonable speed. I've driven a 1.4 sport before and the brakes in that were more powerful by a factor of lots. The brakes coupled with the slight roll doesn't really fill me with confidence driving around to be honest.


Bullying
This is something I encountered when I had my first car, a Fiat Seicento. It disappeared when I got my Alfa and, irritatingly, reared its ugly head again. Folk just don't accept a little car on the road. If you're in front of them, you're going too slow - even if you're doing 90 and they're having to TRY to keep up with you. If you're behind them on a motorway and they're doing 50, you're obviously not fast enough to overtake so they don't get out the way. One time I had an asspiece that was cruising along at 45 in a 70 so I was forced to undertake. It then turned into a drag race. Which I lost because the **** was in a 2 litre BMW and I'm in a 1.3 applecart.

I hate this feeling of persecution on the road simply based on the fact I'm driving a dinky little white car. It's totally uncalled for because it's just as fast as everyone else on the road!! It could boil down to jealousy.
Future Work
I'd like to get better brakes on my car, much better brakes. Following on from that a 30mm suspension drop to hug the road a bit better (ground effect..??? ) and finally if I'm feeling crazy remap the engine up to 100bhp.

Conclusion
In my situation, I don't think for a second I bought the wrong car - I'm saving money and not feeling like I really had to downgrade comfort. Motorway driving (90% of my time spent in the car) is a doddle, if it wasn't for the knuckle grinders on the road. As a city car the 500 is absolutely splendid darting around the streets of Birmingham for fun. I really enjoy it when it's in a good mood.

I'll be entirely honest though, the second I can afford an Alfa again the 500's gone.

A very good and fair review.
Intersting about the brakes though.

i got a 1.3 diesel and find the brakes are well good enough to stop it
for a car with discs and drums not bad at all
handling must get done does feel like a roller coaster but good fun and brings a smile
overall its a good lickle car for the money and has the retro image to go with it
oh yes get it remapped and then you have some fun

Damiano said:

The brakes, however, scare me horribly. They just don't seem capable of stopping the car at any reasonable speed. I've driven a 1.4 sport before and the brakes in that were more powerful by a factor of lots.

Click to expand...

How can the braking capability be so different between 1.3 and 1.4?
I know that 1.4 has bigger front discs and rear discs, but still?!

Having tried all three, I didnt feel there was much in it between the 1.3 and 1.4. However, I did notice the brakes being slightly less efficient on the 1.2.

pusko said:

How can the braking capability be so different between 1.3 and 1.4?
I know that 1.4 has bigger front discs and rear discs, but still?!

Click to expand...

I think you have answered your own question:yeahthat:

Hi Damiano looks like we are coming from the same place I had a Alfa 156 and the petrols looked like going like hell. Was a 2 litre TS. So you could imagine, I trade it in for a GP couple of months back!! But the feeling of having another Alfa is there may be a 159.
By the way the new 500, I had it for a week now a 1.2 lounge and seems like the brakes are not so effective but so far they always stopped the car....
I love it anyway....

vindaloo said:

I think you have answered your own question:yeahthat:

Click to expand...

I guess so too.

Glad to see that you're getting good mileage figures from the 1.3. I just ordered one for exactly the same reason - I'm doing 200-400 miles per week in my Mini Cooper S and it's costing an arm and a leg in fuel alone, never mind the insurance and road tax. I thought about switching to the diesel Mini but having owned two petrol Minis already (Cooper and Cooper S), I figure it's time for a change.

I hope the bullying's not too bad. I went from Mini Cooper > BMW Z4 > Mini Cooper S and found that other motorists were/are much more friendly towards the Mini. I don't know if it's the cute factor or what but the difference is clear. I was kind of hoping the same thing would apply to the 500.

Ive just looked in my lovely brochure and you may have a point about the brakes
It states the 1.4 and 1.3Mjet have vented front discs the 1.2 does not
could be that imho.

Wow, I thought I was the only alfa nut around!

Before the 500 (1.4 lounge) I have had 3 Alfa 156's, a 1.8, then another 1.8 and then a 1.6 sportwagon, all with other cars inbetween. The main reason to get rid was the very expensive servicing costs, but then I still miss them.

Just before the 500 I had a 230k SLK, which was good when it worked but we had loads of problems with it, from roof to gearbox, which had to be rebuilt at £2300. Anyway, I looked at a 2.0 jts Alfa gt but then let my head rule as I found out that the gt would cost £300 to tax next year, oh and £700 for the 36k service. In the end that was what swayed me and so far, after 1600 miles I dont regret it a bit, but a 159, well now.....

Let us know if you go back to Alfa's!

I know what you mean about bullying

I used to have a Toyota Surf, then I could make your average BMW X5 shift it's carcass out of the way, now I'm the one shifting.

At least I can laugh all the way to the bank - and your fuel costs are ? and you pay HOW much for car tax ?

We may now have small cars, but we have the COOL cars :worship:

damiano, don't you still miss your seicento though?!

f'kin fantastic cars they are - i dont give a damn if people try and bully me in mine, i hold my ground and let them stew or tailgate me or whatever they want. although having not driven a 500 yet, i imagine the driving experience isnt a world apart? ....just higher quality interior

Hmm, I can't say I miss my sei at all

Thought I'd share my consumption data with you guys - drove down Monday night

Distance: ~360 Miles
Average Speed: 70mph
Average Consumption: 44.3mpg
Motorway Driving

I'm a retro tart, i've had 3 New Beetles, a New Mini and now this. For quality the New Beetle is leagues ahead of both the Mini and little Fiat, however I'd say the Fiat feels better made than the Mini, and is far more comfortable to drive, however i've only done 460 miles in the Fiat so only time will tell, and I've already got a few niggles, then these niggles are minor compared to the New Renaults I've had previously!

And I know what you mean about bullying! It does my nut in - still its nothing compared to the bullying you get when you're driving a classic Beetle! Even though apart from Mways they more than keep up with modern traffic!

Thats interesting, as I looked at new Beetles and thought how poorly made they were. That dash top for instance is awful cheap hard plastic

The dash top is actually covered with a soft type stuff on a NB, they all have their issues TBH, but in perspective, the Fiat is a much cheaper car, so really is probably the best of the bunch


Whatever, the Mini was the worst by far, badly made, rattly, and fell to pieces - I'd never recommend anyone buy one.